A new report could provide a counter-narrative to the discussion of why many wealthy individuals, many of them seniors, are opting to reside in larger dwellings that could support families.

Airbnb has released data showing that senior hosts in the District grossed a total of $5.5 million in 2017. These earnings are 50 percent higher than what was observed in 2016.

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Number of senior Airbnb hosts

An interesting facet to this study is that only 360 hosts in DC identified as being aged 60 years or older, a number that, while low, is still 62 percent higher than in 2016. These hosts earned an average of $10,600 last year via the platform. Seniors who own a listing in Ward 2 ($1.8 million) or Ward 6 ($1.5 million) earned the highest income; Wards 1 and 3 followed with earnings in the $700,000s.

Senior women in particular are taking the lead on using the service, representing 61 percent of senior hosts in Ward 4 and 52 percent of senior hosts in Ward 6.